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Display Size (Pixels not
Inches)
The color display size, in pixels, is the single most important characteristic
to consider when selecting a Garmin GPS receiver for viewing 24K Topos. The
pixel size and diagonal size are less relevant in a handheld GPS because you
will move the display closer or further faster than you can read this. Here's a
table comparing various Garmin models:
| |
|
Pixels |
Dimensions |
|
|
Model |
|
Width |
Height |
Total |
Width |
Height |
Area |
Pixel Size |
Comments |
| |
|
|
|
|
mm |
mm |
mm2 |
mm2 |
|
|
Nuvi 2xxW |
|
480 |
272 |
130,560 |
97 |
57 |
5,529 |
0.0423 |
Control buttons reduce map display |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colorado & Oregon |
|
240 |
400 |
96,000 |
38 |
63 |
2,394 |
0.0249 |
No banner on top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
eTrex & Rino |
|
176 |
220 |
38,720 |
33 |
43 |
1,419 |
0.0366 |
Lat & Long Banner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60/76 CSx & Dakota |
|
160 |
240 |
38,400 |
38 |
56 |
2,128 |
0.0554 |
Lat & Long Banner |
From the above table a wide Nuvi would seem
an obvious choice: included road maps, low cost, large display and touchscreen;
however Nuvi fails on sunlight readability and battery life with non-replaceable
batteries.
Sunlight Readability
If you can't read the display in bright sun, theirs little point carrying 24K
Topos into the field. On some models, color eTrex, 60/76 and Colorado, the
brighter the light the easier they are to read. The touchscreen models suffer
because they place two layers of resistive film between you and the display. In
order of most to least readable:
Color eTrex > 60/76 > Colorado >
Dakota > Oregon > Nuvi
Battery Life:
Battery life varies from 28 to 3 hours depending on model and whether or not you
have the backlight on to aid viewing. The good news is all the handheld models
accept standard AA batteries, so easy to change in the field. Garmin publishes
the battery life of each model and their numbers are a good guide. In order of
best to worst battery life:
Color eTrex > 60/76> Dakota > Colorado =
Oregon > Nuvi*
*Most Nuvi models have
non-replaceable batteries
Other Factors:
The user interface is a consideration with the touchscreen Oregon, Dakota and
Nuvi getting high marks. Satellite reception is no longer an issue, all are very
sensitive. Weight, if you exclude the radio equipped Rino, the weight varies
between 5-7 ounces, not a big difference. Cost varies from $100 to $500
depending on the model, makes the maps look like a bargain.
eTrex Note:
Be sure if you buy any model in the eTrex family that you get a model with an
"x" in the model name. The "x" denotes a replaceable microSD memory card.
Without the memory card theirs too little internal memory to hold sufficient
maps to be of value.
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